Canada's new fleet of nine mid-shore patrol vessels will get their new names Thursday, and will all honour fallen Canadians who died in the line of duty.

Ministers Peter MacKay, Gail Shea and Jean-Pierre Blackburn will announce the nine new ships' names Thursday at a ceremony at the National War Museum.

According to a government source, fallen heroes from the Coast Guard, Canadian Forces and RCMP will be honoured with ships in their name, and family members of the ships' namesakes will be in attendance for the ceremony.

Two of the vessels will be named for First World War heroes Cpl. Joseph Kaeble and Pte. James Robertson, both of whom were awarded the Victoria Cross for their bravery and sacrifice.

The Hero Class mid-shore patrol vessels, which are being built at the Halifax Shipyard, are expected to hit the seas for the Canadian Coast Guard in 2013.

The ships, which will be about 40 metres long, will have an effective patrol range of 220 km off shore and a maximum speed of 46 km/h.

The CCGS Corporal Kaeble and CCGS Private Robertson will be used in a joint maritime security program with the RCMP in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system.